Increased incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma among longshoremen in Genoa, Italy: the role of sunlight and occupational exposure
- 1National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
- 2University of Genoa and National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
- 3National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
- 4University of Genoa, Italy
- 5University of Genoa and National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
- 6National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence to: Dr D F Merlo Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, National Cancer Research Institute, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy; franco.merloistge.it
Epidemiological evidence supports the aetiological role of natural (sunlight) and artificial (sunlamps and sunbeds) sources of ultraviolet radiation (UV-A) on the occurrence of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM).1 Occupational studies have suggested increased risks for CMM among chemists, telecommunications and electronics workers,2 printing industry workers,3 and harbour workers (forwarding/shipping agents, harbour masters, and ferry and harbour service assistants).4
To investigate the relation between occupation and cancer incidence, we retrospectively studied cancer incidence in 4993 longshoremen ever employed at the dock of Genoa, Italy, between 1933 and 1980. They were employed at two dockyard trading companies: the “Stefano Canzio” and “San Giorgio”. Although men employed at the two dockyard companies loaded and unloaded the same products, employees of the former company performed their job mainly outdoors, and employees of the latter mostly inside the ships. They were categorised a priori according to their prevalent pattern of occupational sunlight exposure as indoor (2707) and …
